3 New CPT Codes for Remote Monitoring

Fifty professional societies and healthcare providers wrote a letter to Seema Verma, the secretary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) asking that the agency reimburse three new CPT codes for remote monitoring.

Remote Monitoring More than 99091

While expressing their gratitude that the 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule includes 99091 Physician/healthcare professional collection and interpretation of physiologic data stored/transmitted by patient/caregiver, the groups said they “believe CMS must continue the commitment carefully articulated in the 2018 PFS Final Rule: to consider new digital health CPT codes created by the American Medical Association CPT Editorial Panel. We stand in agreement with CMS that RM are paid under the same conditions as in-person physician services and can be a significant part of ongoing medical care.”

990X1: device(s) supply with daily recording(s) or programmed alert(s) transmission, each 30 days

994X9: Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, 20 minutes or more of clinical staff/physician/other qualified healthcare professional time in a calendar month requiring interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the month

The group argues the RVS Update Committee (RUC) has already reviewed these codes and set reimbursement rates for them, the group argues, and requests reimbursement in the 2019 coding year.

Brad Ericson, MPC, CPC, COSC, has been director of publishing for more than 11 years. Before AAPC he was at Optum for 13 years and Aetna Health Plans prior to that. He has been writing and publishing about healthcare since 1979. He received his Bachelor's in Journalism from Idaho State University and his Master's of Professional Communication degree from Westminster College of Salt Lake City.

Brad Ericson, MPC, CPC, COSC, has been director of publishing for more than 11 years. Before AAPC he was at Optum for 13 years and Aetna Health Plans prior to that. He has been writing and publishing about healthcare since 1979. He received his Bachelor's in Journalism from Idaho State University and his Master's of Professional Communication degree from Westminster College of Salt Lake City.